Cameron Archer aims to continue scorching form and pile more pressure on Reading manager Veljko Paunović

Reading boss Veljko Paunović is under pressure after a series of poor results and his side faces Preston North End’s red hot Cameron Archer on Saturday.

The Aston Villa loanee has scored three goals in six games since his move to Deepdale in January, but all of those strikes have come away from home.

So far, the Royals have struggled this season, with their last victory in all competitions coming on November 27th, leaving them two points above the Championship drop zone.

Fans of the Berkshire based side are getting increasingly frustrated over their team’s lack of success on the pitch and many have called for their Serbian coach to be removed from his post.

The Royals recently celebrated the 150th anniversary of their foundation but the mood around the club has been less than celebratory, with fans staying around after their game against Peterborough United in midweek to chant their displeasure of the manager among other issues.

In addition, supporters angrily swarmed the Reading team bus when leaving the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

During the post-match interview after the draw to the Posh, Paunovic replied with “no comment” to every testing question asked of him.

It was not long ago that the club formed on Christmas day in 1871 were in the Premier League and there has been a steady decline since dropping out of the top flight in 2013.

Berkshire’s only professional team have some players of high quality in Lucas Joao, John Swift and Ovie Ejaria, to name a few, but Paunovic cannot seem to find the winning formula with a squad that is strong on paper.

The former Chicago Fire manager has averaged a 34% win ratio at the Royals, which is deemed by many as not good enough to stay in the job.

An in-form Archer is probably one of the last players Paunovic wants to face with his time at Reading on the line.

It has been a short rise to acclaim for the Walsall-born striker after bursting onto the scene for the Villans with a hat-trick against Barrow in this season’s Second Round of the Carabao Cup as well as a goal away at Chelsea.

Archer’s North End teammate Ben Whiteman, who is often the man supplying the young forward, heaped praise on the Villa man.

“Yeah, it’s massive [to have him].

“The game last weekend [at Peterborough] was a shocker, the pitch was awful, the game wasn’t great, but it is about that little bit of quality and momentum really.

“Once you have sort of got that with you, you know that if a chance falls for him, he is going to put it away.

“But, as a lad, he is a great lad who wants to learn, wants to do all of the basics, and I’m sure he will go on to have a top-class career.”

Similar in style to Carlos Tevez, Archer provides a source of attacking play which this current Lilywhites side lacked before Ryan Lowe became boss in December.

One issue is that the 20-year-old is yet to score at home, with all of his finishes coming on the road.

However, Archer is truly deadly in front of goal with his finishing ability making it near impossible for goalkeepers to avoid conceding.

The England under-20s international also has plenty of pace to bring to the North End attack, which may trouble Michael Morrison when the two go up against each other.

This week, their opponents Reading added the former Manchester City academy star Brandon Barker to their squad after his release from Rangers.

Barker is no stranger to Deepdale after he played 16 games on loan for Preston during the 2018/19 season.

Lowe’s side are unbeaten in six games and have won 25 out of the 64 meetings with the Royals, but Reading have won three of the last five fixtures between the two sides.

If Archer’s side are to beat Reading on this occasion, it may very well signal the end of Paunovic’s time in Berkshire.

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